Bracket assembly

ABSTRACT

An bracket assembly comprises a bracket for attaching a target to a rack, wherein the bracket comprises a first mounting portion for holding the bracket on the target and a second mounting portion for holding the bracket on a rack frame of the rack, wherein the first mounting portion has one or more openings for receiving penetrating fasteners, and the second mounting portion has one or more aligned studs for being engaged to the keyholes in the rack frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/808,089, filed Feb. 20, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an improved mounting bracket assembly of the type for supporting rack and the like and is particularly adaptable to be removably attached to a rack frame.

BACKGROUND

Light apparatuses emit light to elicit plant growth. Plants utilize light by photosynthesis to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water. With light apparatuses, plants can be grown inside climate controlled structures. In some scenarios, the plants are supported on a rack inside climate controlled structures with light sources illuminating from the side. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have an improved bracket to hold the light sources.

SUMMARY

A need exists for improved bracket assembly for attaching a target to a rack. Embodiments disclosed herein provide bracket assembly comprising a bracket for attaching a target to a rack, wherein the bracket comprises a first mounting portion for holding the bracket on the target and a second mounting portion for holding the bracket on a rack frame of the rack. The first mounting portion has one or more openings for receiving penetrating fasteners, and the second mounting portion has one or more aligned studs for being engaged to the keyholes in the rack frame.

For example, the first mounting portion further have one or more keyholes, each keyhole formed by two substantially cylindrical connected bores with different sizes. For example, the first mounting portion and the second portion are substantially planar in its entirety. For example, the first mounting portion extends from one end of the second portion, the first mounting portion and the second portion forming an angle of 45 degrees. For example, the rack is configured to support plants, and the target comprises light sources configured to illuminate the plant. For example, a third mounting portion connecting the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion. For example, the first mounting portion, the second mounting portion and the third mounting portion form generally a triangle, and the second mounting portion comprises a first section and a second section located at two opposite sides of the third mounting portion, wherein the first section is connected with the first mounting portion, and the one or more aligned studs are arranged in the second section. For example, the third mounting portion and/or the first section of the second mounting portion have one or more openings aligned with the penetrating fasteners in the first mounting portion. For example, the third mounting portion has one or more apertures configured to be aligned with holes in the rack frame. The bracket assembly further comprising a lock spring configured to lock the bracket into the rack frame by penetrating the aligned apertures in the third mounting portion and holes in the rack frame. For example, the lock spring comprised a strip-shaped base, a hook member formed at one end of the base, and a generally U-shaped member formed at the other end of the base, wherein the hook member and the U-shaped member are both configured to penetrate respectively one aligned aperture in the third mounting portion and one hole in the rack frame. For example, the third mounting portion is perpendicular to the second mounting portion. For example, the second mounting portion further have a pin hole configured to be aligned with a keyhole in the rack frame. The bracket assembly further comprises a safety pin configured to lock the bracket into the rack frame. For example, the safety pin comprises two legs in L-shape, one of which has a round cap at the end. For example, the first mounting portion, the second mounting portion and the third mounting portion form generally an U-shape, wherein the third mounting portion is a base portion, and the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion extend from two opposite sides of the third mounting portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present disclosure will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the disclosure are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a bracket attached to a rack frame of a rack, in accordance with embodiments;

FIG. 2-4 illustrates three different views of the bracket and illustrate details of the bracket, in accordance with embodiments;

FIG. 5-6 illustrate a manner in which the first mounting portion engages with the target, in accordance with embodiments;

FIG. 7-8 illustrate a manner in which the second mounting portion engages with a rack frame, in accordance with embodiments;

FIG. 9 illustrates a safety pin, in accordance with embodiments;

FIG. 10-11 illustrate a manner in which a safety pin engages with a bracket and a rack frame, in accordance with embodiments; and

FIG. 12 illustrates a lock spring, in accordance with embodiments.

FIG. 13 illustrates a manner in which a lock spring engages with a bracket and a rack frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides a bracket assembly comprising a bracket for attaching a target to a rack with apertured rack frame. FIG. 1 shows a bracket attached to a rack frame of a rack. The rack 100 comprises four rack frames 30 and one or more shelves 31 carried by the four rack frames 30. In some application scenarios, the shelves can be used to support plants. And the target attached to the rack frame 30 of the rack 300 can be light sources used to illuminate the plants arranged on the rack 300, or can be reflective film, or can be controllers for controlling light sources, power sources, watering pump and so on.

FIGS. 2-4 are three different views of the bracket and illustrate details of the bracket. The bracket 10 comprises a first mounting portion 11 for holding the bracket 10 on the target, and a second mounting portion 12 for holding the bracket 10 on the rack. In some instances, the first mounting portion 11 and the second mounting portion 12 are substantially planar in its entirety respectively.

The first mounting portion 11 have one or more openings 111 (four openings are shown in FIG. 2) to receive suitable nails, screws or other types of penetrating fasteners 112, to secure the bracket to the target or remove the bracket from the target.

FIGS. 5-6 illustrate the manner in which the first mounting portion engages with the target. The target 20 has a flat surface 21 with one or more threaded holes 22 (four threaded holes are shown in FIG. 5). When installing the bracket 10 to the target 20, put the captive screw 112 in the threaded hole 22 penetrating the opening 111 and tighten the captive screw 112.

In some instances, the first mounting portion 11 further comprises one or more keyholes 113 (two keyholes are shown in FIG. 1). In some instances, each keyhole 113 is formed by two substantially cylindrical connected bores with different sizes, and the bigger bore is on the upper side of the smaller one. The flat surface 21 of the target 20 has one or more studs 23 (two studs are shown in FIG. 5). When attached to the target 20, each keyhole 113 is engaged with a stud 23. The one or more keyholes 23 may function as an alignment feature between the bracket 10 and the target 20. What's more, the one or more keyholes 113 interface with the studs 23 on the target 20 to provide additional safety feature which prevents the bracket 10 falling out in the event of all four captive screws 112 are failed.

There are one or more studs 121 aligned in the surface of the second mounting portion 12. FIG. 7-8 illustrate the manner in which the second mounting portion engages with a rack frame. The rack frame 30 extends vertically, and has a first surface 301 extends vertically with multiple keyholes 302 aligned along the rack frame 30. When attached to the rack frame 30, each studs 121 on the second mounting portion 12 is engaged with a keyhole 302 in the rack frame 30.

In some instances, each keyhole 302 is formed by two substantially cylindrical connected bores with different sizes, wherein the bigger bore is on the upper side of the smaller one. When installing the bracket 10 to the rack frame 30, align the studs 121 to the bigger bore in each keyhole 302 in the rack frame 30, then slide down to lock the bracket 10 in place. With such manner the bracket can be installed to the rack frame toollessly.

In some instances, there are one or more pin holes 122 arranged in the second mounting portion 12. When attached to the rack frame 30, each pin hole 122 is aligned with a keyhole 302 in the rack frame 30.

In some instances, the bracket assembly comprises a safety pin that can be used to lock the bracket 10 into the rack frame 30. FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the safety pin. The safety pin 40 has two legs 41 and 42 in L-shape, one 42 of which has a round cap 421 at the end. FIG. 10-11 illustrate the manner in which the safety pin 40 engages with bracket 10 and the rack frame 30. After installing the bracket 10 to the rack frame 30, penetrate the safety pin 40 through an aligned pin hole 122 and keyhole 302, with one leg 41 extending along the rack frame 30 and the round cap 421 at the other leg 42 getting stuck at one side of the pin hole 122.

In some instances, as are illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, the bracket 10 further comprises a third mounting portion 13. The third mounting portion 13 is substantially planar in its entirety. The third mounting portion 13 extends from one side of the first mounting portion 11, and the second mounting portion 12 extends from the other side of the first mounting portion 11.

The second mounting portion 12 comprises two sections 1201 and 1202, the first 1201 of which connects with the first mounting portion 11 and locates at one side of the third mounting portion 13, the second 1202 of which locates at the opposite side of the third mounting portion 13. The cross section of the first mounting portion 11, the cross section of the first section 1201 of the second mounting portion 12, the cross section of the third mounting portion 13 generally form a shape of triangle.

In some instances, the first section 1201 of the second mounting portion 12 and the third mounting portion 13 further have one or more openings respectively. As is shown in FIG. 6, each opening 123 in the second mounting portion 12 corresponds to a captive screw 112 in the first mounting portion 11, and each opening 132 in the third mounting portion 13 corresponds to a captive screw 112 in the first mounting portion 11. Each captive screw 112 can be tighten by a screw driver through the opening 123 or 132.

In some instances, the second mounting portion 12 is perpendicular to the third mounting portion 13. In some instances, the second mounting portion 12 is connected with the third mounting portion 13. In some instances, the one or more pin holes 122 are arranged in the second section 1202 of the second mounting portion 12. When attached to the rack frame 30, the second section 1202 of the second mounting portion 12 are attached to the first surface 31 of the rack frame 30.

In some instances, the first mounting portion 11 and the second mounting portion 12 form an angle of 45 degrees. Therefore, the light sources attached to the bracket 10 can illuminate substantially towards the center of the shelf, maximizing the light utilization.

In some instances, as is shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, there are one or more b 131 arranged in the third mounting portion 13, and the rack frame 30 has a second surface 32 perpendicular to the first surface 31. The second surface 32 extends vertically. The cross section of the first surface and the cross section of the second surface form a generally L-shape. There are multiple holes (like square holes 321 shown in FIG. 7) arranged vertically along the rack frame 30. Each aperture 131 in the third mounting portion 13 is aligned with a square hole 321.

The bracket assembly may comprises a lock spring that can be used to lock the bracket 10 into the rack frame 30, interfacing with the aligned apertures 131 and square hole 321. FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the lock spring. In some instances, the lock spring 50 comprises a strip-shaped base 51, a hook member 52 formed at one end of the base 51, and a generally U-shaped member 53 formed at the other end of the base 51.

FIG. 13 illustrates the manner in which the lock spring engages with the bracket 10 and the rack frame 30. When apertures 131 in the third mounting portion 13 are aligned with square holes 321 in the rack frame 30, insert the hook member 52 of the lock spring 50 through a pair of aligned square hole 321 and apertures 131, and insert the U-shaped member 53 through another pair of aligned square hole 321 and apertures 131. With such manner the bracket 10 is prevented from rotating out after installation and is further locked to the rack frame 30.

The first mounting portion 11, the second mounting portion 12 and the third mounting portion 13 described above form substantially a shape of triangle. In some instance, the bracket may have another shape. For example, the first mounting portion 11, the second mounting portion 12 and the third mounting portion 13 may form substantially an U-shape. The third mounting portion 13 is a base portion, and the first mounting portion 11 and the second mounting portion 12 extends from two opposite sides of the third mounting portion.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the presently disclosed technology have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the technology. Further, while advantages associated with certain embodiments of the technology have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the present technology. Accordingly, the present disclosure and associated technology can encompass other embodiments not expressly shown or described herein.

At least a portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bracket assembly comprising a bracket for attaching a target to a rack, wherein the bracket comprises: a first mounting portion for holding the bracket on the target, the first mounting portion having one or more openings for receiving penetrating fasteners; a second mounting portion for holding the bracket on a rack frame of the rack, the second mounting portion having one or more aligned studs for being engaged to the keyholes in the rack frame.
 2. The bracket assembly of claim 1, wherein: the first mounting portion further have one or more keyholes, each keyhole formed by two substantially cylindrical connected bores with different sizes.
 3. The bracket assembly of claim 1, wherein: the first mounting portion and the second portion are substantially planar in its entirety.
 4. The bracket assembly of claim 3, wherein: the first mounting portion extends from one end of the second portion, the first mounting portion and the second portion forming an angle of 45 degrees.
 5. The bracket assembly of claim 4, wherein: the rack is configured to support plants, and the target comprises light sources configured to illuminate the plant.
 6. The bracket assembly of claim 3, further comprising: a third mounting portion connecting the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion.
 7. The bracket assembly of claim 6, wherein: the first mounting portion, the second mounting portion and the third mounting portion form generally a triangle, and the second mounting portion comprises a first section and a second section located at two opposite sides of the third mounting portion, wherein the first section is connected with the first mounting portion, and the one or more aligned studs are arranged in the second section.
 8. The bracket assembly of claim 7, wherein: the third mounting portion and/or the first section of the second mounting portion have one or more openings aligned with the penetrating fasteners in the first mounting portion.
 9. The bracket assembly of claim 7, wherein the third mounting portion has one or more apertures configured to be aligned with holes in the rack frame, and wherein the bracket assembly further comprising a lock spring configured to lock the bracket into the rack frame by penetrating the aligned apertures in the third mounting portion and holes in the rack frame.
 10. The bracket assembly of claim 9, wherein: the lock spring comprises a strip-shaped base, a hook member formed at one end of the base, and a generally U-shaped member formed at the other end of the base, wherein the hook member and the U-shaped member are both configured to penetrate respectively one aligned aperture in the third mounting portion and one hole in the rack frame.
 11. The bracket assembly of claim 6, wherein: the third mounting portion is perpendicular to the second mounting portion.
 12. The bracket assembly of claim 1, wherein the second mounting portion further have a pin hole configured to be aligned with a keyhole in the rack frame, and wherein bracket assembly further comprising a safety pin configured to lock the bracket into the rack frame.
 13. The bracket assembly of claim 12, wherein the safety pin comprises two legs in L-shape, one of which has a round cap at the end.
 14. The bracket assembly of claim 6, wherein: the first mounting portion, the second mounting portion and the third mounting portion form generally an U-shape, wherein the third mounting portion is a base portion, and the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion extend from two opposite sides of the third mounting portion. 